Another Saint is in Glory

Another connection to the past has gone on to Heaven. Yesterday, Mother went to the graveside service for Dortha Dowdy. The last of the missionaries that were on the field when Dad and Mother arrived in Argentina, Dortha was the faithful wife of J.Paul Dowdy, and they had been on the mission field for about eight years at the time. At the time I begin to remember them, they lived in a large (and I mean large, 26 rooms) house which was the original "casco" (hub) of the "estancia" (spread or ranch) called La Carlota, from which the town got its name. At sometime along in there, possibly while Dowdys were on furlough (now known as home ministries), we lived there, and during that time the James Marshalls arrived in Argentina, and lived in the same house (we still had plenty of room).



Mrs. Dowdy was a Southern Belle, and was used to giving orders. She knew how to administer a large spread, and she did it well. One of my earliest recollections was hearing her call for her youngest son, who was almost my same age (give or take a few months). You could hear her from a long distance. When you heard RAW BER...R...R...T you felt like you were in the middle of a hollering fest, or a hog calling contest, and you knew that Robert had better hie to.... and fast.



In a very real sense, she was the ideal wife for J. Paul. He was contemplative... she a woman of action. He was a scholar, she a housekeeper.



Proverbs 31 comes to mind when I think of her. Her husband could count on her, she was frugal and businesslike, and she was devoted to her family. They did not need to fear whether they would have clothing or a place to live, for she would make sure that these would be available and in good shape.



Another saint has been ushered into Glory, and that gives those of us who are left here one more reason to be 'homesick'. Yes, I want to see Jesus first of all, but it will be wonderful to have fellowship with all those who have gone on before. We do not sorrow like the world does, though we do feel the departure of a dear sister and friend, and we grieve with her three sons, James, Roger, and Robert.